Avalanche forecast

Jasper

Jan 23 – 24, 2016Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

A widespread weak faceted base is the root of all concern.  Be very cautious in all steep terrain for slab and loose snow avalanches. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Significant wind event (Strong SW) transporting available snow to produce touchy wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Loose dry avalanches should be expected in steep terrain, and may entrain significant amounts of snow in gully features.

Weather Forecast

A few more cm of snow possible through Friday night with continuing Mod to Strong SW winds.  On Saturday the winds will subside and temperatures will fall as an arctic ridge builds from the North bringing an end to any possibility of more snow for the foreseeable future.......

Snowpack Summary

SW (M-S) winds continue to build slab on top of a weak faceted snowpack on exposed tree line and alpine features. Warm new snow (2-4 cm)  pin-wheeling and snowballing on steep terrain below tree line on all aspects on top of a very weak faceted base.

Avalanche Summary

A couple of sz 1 loose snow avalanches observed below tree line from steep terrain on Friday. Loose snow avalanches should be expected in steep terrain at tree line and below. Touchy slab conditions can be expected below ridge lines in open tree line areas and in the alpine.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Saturday

Regions covered